Paris (AFP)

New reports, new measures and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.

- Quarantine in UK -

London imposed at 0300 GMT on Saturday a fourteen-day quarantine on travelers returning from France "because of the increasing number of cases of Covid-19 across French territory", says the British government. The holidays of hundreds of thousands of people have been shaken by the decision, which also affects travelers from the Netherlands, Monaco and Malta. Paris threatened London with a "reciprocity measure".

- Meetings prohibited in Paris -

Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited in Paris if barrier gestures are not guaranteed.

The compulsory wearing of a protective mask, already in force in several places in the capital, will also be extended from Saturday at 06:00 GMT to part of the Champs-Elysées and to the Louvre museum district in particular.

- Restricted pilgrimage to Lourdes -

While it normally attracts 20 to 25,000 people, the Christian pilgrimage of August 15 to Lourdes will bring together a maximum of 10,000 people on Saturday, with compulsory masks.

Pilgrims will not be able to put their hand or kiss the stone on the walls of the Grotto where, according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirou in 1858.

- Spain, a country at risk -

Germany has decided to place all of Spain, with the exception of the Canary Islands, in the category of countries at risk after an upsurge in cases, including the island of Mallorca, a favorite destination for the Germans.

Tourists returning from these territories will be required to undergo a screening test on their return and remain in quarantine pending the result.

- Greece: thousands of Albanians stranded -

Thousands of Albanians working in Greece were stranded on Friday at the border between the two countries, trying to pass before the entry into force on Sunday of the obligation to show up with a negative test for Covid-19.

A queue of some 4,000 cars, over 20 kilometers, formed at the Kakavia border crossing in southern Albania.

- Austria advises against Croatia -

Austria strongly advised its residents against traveling to Croatia from Monday and asked Austrian holidaymakers to leave the country, due to the increase in contamination.

- Reinforced restrictions -

Spain has decided to close nightclubs and ban smoking in the streets without a safety distance of at least two meters, tightening restrictions to stem the resurgence of the new coronavirus.

In Greece, bars and restaurants will now close at midnight and until 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) in the most affected regions. The measure will be valid until August 24.

- United States: borders closed -

The borders between the United States and its two neighbors, Mexico and Canada, will remain closed to non-essential travel until September 21 to curb the epidemic, announced the US Minister of Homeland Security.

- Serbia: mandatory negative tests -

The Serbian authorities have decided to impose on foreign nationals wishing to enter Serbia from four neighboring countries (Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria) the obligation to present a negative test for the coronavirus.

This measure comes into force on Saturday and does not affect Serbian nationals returning to their country.

- More than 750,000 deaths worldwide -

The new coronavirus has killed at least 754,649 people for more than 20.9 million cases recorded worldwide, according to a count made by AFP from official sources, Friday at midday.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 167,253 deaths, ahead of Brazil (105,463), Mexico (55,293), India (48,040) and the United Kingdom (41,347).

- Vaccines -

The British government has now secured a total of 340 million doses of vaccine after announcing agreements with US laboratories Johnson & Johnson and Novavax for 90 million doses.

- Norway recommends wearing a mask -

Norway, one of the last bastions resistant to wearing masks, now recommends that passengers on public transport in the capital Oslo and its surroundings use a mask during rush hour.

The recommendation, non-binding and effective from Monday, is limited to situations that do not allow travelers to "maintain a distance of one meter".

- Regularized asylum seekers -

Canada will regularize asylum seekers who have helped treat Covid-19 patients at the height of the pandemic. Applicants who have directly cared for the sick in a health establishment, a retirement home or at home, such as nurses or nursing assistants are concerned.

burx-vmt / dth

© 2020 AFP